Fuse cutout



Feb 2 1954 O. A. voRDTlEDE 2,668,214

FUSE CUTOUT Filed Feb. 9, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l O. A. VORDTRIEDE FUSECUTOUT Feb. 2, 1954 -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1953 Feb. 2, 1954 o.A. VORDTRIEDE FUSE CUTOUT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1955 PatentedFeb. 2, 1954 FUSE CUTIOUT lver A. Vordtriede, St. Louis, Mo., assignor,by mesne assignments, to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Application February 9, 1953, Serial No. 335,943

Claims.

This invention relates to fuse cutouts, and more particularly to a fusecutout which is an improvement upon the cutout shown in the UnitedStates application Serial No. 229,814 of James J. Cooper and myself,iiled June 4, 1951, for Fuse Cutout.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofindependently functioning tensioning and withdrawal means for acontained fuse link, which incorporates a latch adapted to preventadditional tensioning of the fuse link as has heretofore been caused byreaction pressure from a lower spring contact; and the provision of animproved form of lower spring contact having a wiping action uponrelease. Brieiiy, the above ends are accomplished by arranging a pivotedand biased link-tensioning device with a latch which coordinates with adouble-pivot member to relieve the link from said reaction. The surfacesof the lower spring contact and of the line terminal block with which itengages cooperate over an arc, providing for wiping action upon movementof the spring contact from the terminal block. Y The inventionaccordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements,features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofwhich will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a side elevation of my fuse cutout in its conditionimmediately prior to rupture of the fuse, the housing being shown insection, parts of the fuse holder being broken away, the position ofparts after drop-down operation being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an idealized front elevation of the housing and fuse holderafter drop-out operation, as viewed from lines 2 2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, showing the position ofparts after pop-out operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. l, showing the position ofparts after drop-out operation, a position of certain parts duringremoval of the fuse holder being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 6 is a detail cross section taken on line 5 6 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings. Reference characters above 200 show theparts which constitute the departure from the construction shown in saidapplication Serial No. 229,814. Figs. 2-4 are on a reduced 2 scale andFigs. 5 and 6 are on enlarged scales, all relative to Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. i a fuse cutout ofthis invention as mounted on a power-line pole. The Icutout is of theenclosed type having a fuse support comprising a housing I of porcelain,and upper and lower interior line terminal elements 3 and 5,respectively, carried by the housing. A fuse holder is removablysupported upon the housing or fuse support. This fuse holder comprises adoor 1 for the housing, a fuse tube 9 xed to the door, and upper andlower terminal-engaging -contact members II and I3, respectively. Thedoor 1 is supported upon the housing I by a movable hinge ordouble-pivot member I5, pivotal at I1 to the door and removably hingedon pivots I 9 to hinge sockets 20.

A hanger 2| is aiiixed, as by cement 23, to the housing ifor mountingit, as upon the crossbar of a line pole, at an angle such that the topof the housing and center of gravity of the fuse holder are overcentered-zwith respect to the open bottom 25 of the housing and pivot I9,respectively. The door 1 is formed at its top with an eye 21 so that itmay be opened and closed by means of the usual linemans hot stick. Onthe inside, the :door 1 is formed with upper and lower aperturedprojections 29 and 3I respectively. These receive the fuse tube 9. Thefuse tube 9 is fixed within the apertured projections by means of aretaining pin 33 extending through the lower projections 3| andcooperating with a suitable recess in the fuse tube. The fuse tube 9,which is formed of insulating material su-ch as Wrapped plastic and ber,is closed at its top by an assembly of conductive parts .forming theupper contact member I I. Threaded upon the tube at its top is a collar35, which bears against a lock washer 31. The collar is apertured at 39to receive a fuse link 4I. The fuse link 4I has a head 43 which seatsagainst the top of the collar 35. Threaded over the collar and againstthe head 43 of the fuse link is a thumb cap 45.

When the door 1 is closed, the cap 45 is surrounded on opposite sides byconductive spring contact clips 41. These clips 41 have inwardlydivergent portions 49 (Figs. 2 and 3) adapted releasably to retain thedoor closed and to exert a rearward bias upon the fuse holder. The topof the cap is engaged by a conductive spring contact wiper 5I having aloop portion 53, a flat portion 55 normally seating against the top ofthe contact of the cap` 45 and a lip portion 51 normally overhanging thetop of the cap 45 for latching purposes. A resilient bracing clip 58engages the top of the wiper 5I.

The clips 41, 5I and 53 are fixed upon an upper electrically conductiveterminal block 59, which is cemented to the housing. The terminal blockis moved toward the groove 5| by a screw 65. toV

seat a conductor firmly in the groove. The housing I has side apertures61 whichv permit entry of a line conductor. The terminal' block is moreparticularly described and claimed in theA copending application of James J.l Cooper entitled Terminal Block, Serial No. 223,731, led April30, 1951.

It Will be apparent that an electrical connectionis, provided from theterminal block 5S through the spring clips il and 5,! andthrough theconductive cap 45 to; the head of the fuse link` TheV fusev link AllIextends through and out of. theiopenbottomend 1| of the fuse tube 9, andhas-.atf-usible element 59 located within thel tube 9; Telescoped over.`the lower end of the fuse tube., 9,; is, av copper; sleeve or; indicatortube 13, which; Carries an upper collar 'l5' and a lower cQllan-like`member TI. A guide'plate 'isecured between1 the upper and lower collars,'iii and Ti, slides withina guide recess 8| formed in the bacleoftllgdoor.. A transverse stop plate 83 is secured; over the guide recess3| to prevent the indicator` tube i3; fronr dropping off the fusehplder.` The indicator tube I3 is biased from aretracted@positionwithinthe housingto an extended position (dotted linesof Fig. l). Avcoil spring 35l is` telescopedover the fuse tube 9 so astp abut; against the lower door projection 3|, an isolatinglmember ofinsulating material ii'l'restingon top of the upper collar l5.

Tghe lower collar or supporting member il is providedE withv an` arml 89ofright-angular conformation.y Eixedonithe air-m29 is a spring brush20|: of4 arcuate form for contact with an arcuate conductivep`ortion2|l3` of the lower line terminal 5fwhich includesa terminalblock 22 similar to theupper terminal block 59; The arcuatecontacturfaceof the. brush 28| faces in an upward directionand away fromthe fuse-holder. The arcuate contac tsurface of portioni; faces intheopposite direction. When the lower` contact member, isinitsvretractedy (upper) position,- a force is developed between thebrushA 26|. and thev Contact portion 2&3 which tendsY to-drive the lowercontactv memberl downward and. thel fuse holder outward. When releaseoccurs under drop-down, pop-.out or, drop-out conditions to bedescribed, a rotary action. is imparted to the spring brushfZ, whichwipes over the portion 2,03*,as it recedes therefrom. This constitutesone improvement upon the construction shown in said application SerialNo. 229,814.

Aswillappear below, the lower contact memb er 8,9 isheld in itsretracted (upper) position by attachment of an unbroken fuse link iIto abinding post 93 extending from the arm 89. A thumb. screw 95 is threadedover the binding post andcarries a washer 98 which holds down ahand-formed loop at the end ot the link.

The movable member I5v upon which the Afuse holder is pivotallysupported is a member formed with afcentral body` 9'! normally locatedbehind the fuse tube Sand in front of the arm ed.Keyholes'BS,adaptedforcooperation with a hot stick, are located onopposite sides ci the body 97|. Extending fromthe body on opposite sidesofthe fuse tube Bare legs IDI carryingl trunnions |03. The trunnions areremovably received within upwardly opening hook members |55 cemented inthe sides of the housing at the open bottomy 25:. Projecting-l f-rom thebody 8.1 of the movable double-pivot member I5;l in an: oppositedirection from legs lill are arms I'I, which are pivoted upon a pin |05set in lobes III formed on the door. When the door is closed, the memberI5 assumes a generally upright position closely around the indicatortube 13.

Withi the lower contact member I3 in its retractedi position, a step ||3formed thereon cooperates with aV shoulder step I I5 on the member I5 toretain it in its stated upright position. Steps: ||3i and ||5 in effectfunction as a latch for preventing the member l5 from rotating relativetothe fuse holder onA the pivot. Il, while permitting rotation on thepivot-at I5. This latch is released upon movement of the lower Contactmember from its retracted position.

At 265 on arm 89 is pivoted a link-tensioning member 21 which consistsof a plate Zil having side arms 2| I through which the pivot 235 passes.This plate carries asaddle portion 2| 3.over which the fuse link 4| maybe turned, and also ears 215 between which it may be located. The sidearms 2|| include hooks 2|? for engagement over a catch 219 formedv asabridging portion between opposite sides of the step H5; A. spring 22|,woundon the pivot 2il5, reactsiromthetube 13 on the one hand: andagainst. the plate 2&9l on the other hand. This biases the member` 20,1clockwise (Figs. 3 and 4) How-ever., the member 2&3? may be moved.manually into the. position shown in Fig. ll afterv the tube 73..ismoved up, so as to place the hooks 2li'. over the catch 219. Themember Ztl may then be bound in this position by threading the fuselinkM, as shown in solid lines in Fig. Land. anchoring it by nut afterlooping it aroundmember 93. Atthis time the arm 89 is in itsupwardposition, latching the member l5 at latch, ||3, Il". Then when.the door I is closed, the reaction from spring. 20| on the door assemblywill not be transmitted to the fuse link 4|, as was the case oftheconstruetion in said applicationSeralNo. 229,814. This is because theorce from Ythe springZilI is-transmitted through the member 89, pivot205.. and hooks 2I'I to member I5 without'beingtransmitted through thelink 4I. The4 only tension-on the fuse link 4| is that providedfby theclockwise biasing action of spring 22| on the link-tensioning member201; 1n otherworols,4 in the present construction, as distinguished.from that shown in said application Serial No. 229,814, the lighterforce of the spring 22| alone. tensions the link, rather than theheavier force from the contact spring 20|.

The rotational' movement of the member I5 relative to the door. 'iisalso controlled Aby anindicator selector member in the form of aplate. II 1 carried on one of the arms lill of the member I5. This plateis pivotedon the hinge pin IIJQ'and has an arcuate openingl I 9 lyingona circle concentric withthe hinge pin and may beprovided withthreeenlargements designated DO, PO'and DD, readingin a.counterclockwisedirectionias viewed in Fig. 1; The plate` i I'I'is adiustably xed withrespecttothe member I5; by. meansv of a screw |2I threaded into the armIB'I. Ashoulder |23 on the screw |2| .is adaptedlto fit within aselected-one. of the three enlargements-DO, PO and DD; therebyylockingthe plate againstrotaz tion on the.r hinge; pin l S9. In Fig.v 1;.the-:screw is shown to `be` ntted withingthe .enlargementzDD butfit-will be` understood -that.-whentheescreweis partially unscrewed so asto withdraw its shoulder |23 from the recess DD, the'plate may berota-ted to either of the other two positions and fixed in position byagain tightening the screw.

The particular position of the selector plate on the member I isimportant in this respect. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the plate hasan edge |25 facing the back of the door 1. The amount of rotation of themember I5 relative to the door is therefore determined by the engagementof the edge |25 of the selectively positionable plate with the back ofthe door. With the indicator selector plate in the DD position (screwI2I located in the enlargement DD), the member I5 cannot rotate relativeto the door 1 even though the latch at II3 and II5 is released. With theindicator selector plate in the PO position, limited free anticlockwiserotation of the member I5 relative to the door may occur. With theindicator selector plate in the DO position, relatively greater freeclockwise rotational movement of the member I5 relative to the door ispossible.

When the apparatus is set for PO or DO operation, the member I5 swingsoutward from the upright position shown in Fig. 1 and the lower part ofthe door is carried outward as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively. Thetop portion of the door is beveled at its edge as indicated at |21 topermit this movement. An edge |29 of the door 1 otherwise is fiat andabuts against a recessed door seat I3I in the front of the housing I.

Operation is as follows:

Assume first the door 1 has been closed and the indicator'selector stopII1 is set for drop-down (DD) operation. The lower contact member I3 isheld in its retracted position by the hooks 2 I1 on catch 2I9. Thisholding action occurs against the expansive action of spring 85 anddownward reaction of spring 20|. None of these actions are transmittedto the fuse link 4I. The latch at I I3 and I I5 prevents rotation of themember I5 relative to the door 1. The selector plate I I1 also preventssuch rotation. The door is biased in an outward and downward directionby the engagement of the Contact spring 20| with the arcuate member 203.There is also a similarly directed gravity bias resulting from thelocation of the door on the inclined fuse housing I. Also, an additionaldownward component of bias is imparted to the door by the wiper clip 5|and associated spring brace 58 bearing against the top of the uppercontact member II. None of these biases are applied to the link 4I. Theonly bias on it is that due to bias of spring 22| on pivot member 201.

The fuse holder is retained in position by means of the trunnions |03seated in the hook members |05, and by the latching engagement of springclips 41 and 52 with the cap 45 at the top of the fuse tube 9. The clipsmerely prevent outward movement of the top of the fuse holder. Thislatching cooperation at the top of the fuse holder is sufficient to holdagainst the outward thrust from 20| and 203, which thrust actsintermediately of the holding effect of the contact member within theclips 41 and 5I and the reaction of the trunnions |03 in the hookmembers When the fuse blows upon passage of an excessive current, theremay or may not be developed an expulsive discharge tending to drive thelower fragment of the fuse link through the open bottom end of the tube.In any event, the link-tensioning member 201 is then released to rotateclockwise, which aids in withdrawal of the lower part of the link 4|.This also releases the hooks 2I1 from the catch 2I9. Then the reactiveforce between members 20|V and 203 and ex. pansion of the spring 85,aided by gravity, drives down the lower contact member I3. Since thelower contact member I3 and the attached segment of the fuse link moveas a unit, this segment, even though relatively stiff, is positivelywithdrawn. If the link is flexible enough or the expulsive force (if itoccurs) is sufficient, it may reach the position shown by dotted linesat the bottom of Fig. l. In either event operation is positive.

Upon the parting of the fuse, as mentioned before, the lower contactmember I3 is driven from its retracted position to an extended position,the contact member being guided downward by the guide plate 19 slidingwithin the guide recess 8| on the door and by the telescopingcooperation of the indicator tube 13 with the fuse tube 9. The extendedposition of the lower contact is determined by the engagement of theupper collar 15 on the indicator tube with the stop plate 83. When thelower contact member I3 reaches its lower extended position, the spring20| has been wipingly separated from 203, so that the lower contactmember and fuse fragment are electrically dead. Also, the lower contactmember prefA jects from the bottom of the housing, thereby providingvisual indication of the outage. This constitutes drop-down operation.Although movement of the lower contact member results in a release ofthe latch at I I3 and II5, rotation of the member I5 relative to thedoor 1 is prevented by the indicator selector plate I I1. Consequently,the door 1 remains in its closed position, being held there by thelatching cooperation of the upper contact I I with the upper terminalelement 3. A replacement of the blown fuse link is achieved by openingthe door by means of the eye 21 and lifting the door from the housing I,as will be explained.

Assume next that the door is closed with an unblown fuse link mountedtherein and that the indicator selector plate II1 is set for pop-out(PO) operation. The sequence of movements is similar to that describedheretofore with the exception below noted. When the lower contact memberbegins its downward movement from its retracted position upon blowing ofthe fuse, the latch at I I3 and I I5 is released before the spring brush20| completely leaves the member 203. Therefore, an outward reaction isimparted to the lower portion of the fuse holder by the engagement ofmembers 20| and 203. This force, also aided by the weight of the door,drives the fuse holder and door 1 outward so that the door in effectrotates upon the hinges at pivots I1 and I9. Outward movement of the topof the door is restrained by the latching cooperation of the springclips 41 and 5I with the upper contact member I I, although swingingpop-out movement of the lower part of the door is permitted by thebeveled portion |21 at the top of the door. Therefore, the lower portionof the door partially pops out to a limited extent of the housing. Theamount of outward movement is limited by the engagement of edge |25 ofthe indicator selector plate I I1 with the back of the door 1, asindicated in Fig. 3. This outward movement of the lower portion of thedoor is readily visible, yet also to a large extent the inside of thecutout is protected from weather such as sleet and icing conditions.Therefore, a second visual indication of the outage is given, it beingunderstood that the lower contact member has also dropped so as toprojectbelow the bottom of the housing. This is known herein as pop-outoperation. y Assume next that the cutout is set for the dropf- 7 out(130)" operation. .The movement of petits: is the vsanie asv describedabove; with the exception that the' selector plate" H'y havin-g' beenread-- jsted with' the Srw |12| at' the' D'O position", allows furtheroutward movement ofthe door' at its lower portion. AS the member lswings out# Ward upon the pivot atv I9',y the' door' 1 alsoI drops".When the door drops', the reapl 45' at th' upper contact member Il is'`withdrawn downward from the latching cooperationof the spring" clips 41and 5I, and when this latch is released the upper part of the door fallsopenv under gravity bias to the' position indicatedat Fig. 4. The 'nalposition of the door is determined the engage# ment of its loweredgewith the lower side edges oi the housing I. The housing is otherwiserel cessed at its lower portion to permit the' lower contact member ,toswing upward within` the housing. The is known as drop-'out operation.

Referring to Fig. 4; the splitftriinnions [03ha'v'e their flat surfaces|33 positioned suoli thatwhen the door is hanging in its o'pen" positionit may not be removed by upwardomovement on the door or upper contact asmight occur ifa" lineman were accidentally to brush against the door inclimbing the line pole. A slight upward swing'- ing movement of themember l5 must r's't'loccur to clear the trunni'onsv for liftingmovement from the hOOkS |05.- Ths Slight'- upwardA svt-inging' movementis automatically obtained by applica'- tion of a-hot stick to one of thekeyholes'99; The complete fuse holder may then befr'emovedjfroin thefuse support and the blownv fuse linkmay be readily replaced.

A new fuse link is inserted by removing the cap` 45, threading the fuselinkthrough the fuse tube 9 and securing' the outer endo'f the" fuselink at the binding post 93; Aty this time the link-tensioning member201 is moved counterclockwise' against the'4 actionofZ spring 22T and thhooks' 21T are n'llixfed into position over. the catcli 219i Thistensions the lilik. The` fuse holder'iS then repladupon thehousing-by/'us of keyhoiesf 99 and' tnefdo'or closeiif by use" of eyelt21'. Itl Willv b'ellotedh thatY door? 'I I''ay'f' be closedwithout'replacing the fuse link IH and maintained? clOSdfby adjustingthe' Seleoti" pla-te H11' to the DD positio AThev10Wer"(jointact-Iiielfififbei r3f win proje'cnffrom the housingt'ofuiaish indication that y the (l'itfillt iS not' fused" Whil'thconductive parts are protected from'wea'ther.

In view of the abovei itlvvillbeseen"J that the several objects oftl'ie'inventionar'eachieved and otherf a dv'antageous 'results' attainedAls:y many 'changes' could be 'made in the' abbi/"e constructionswithout dep'aitingf from the scope of the invention; itlisintenddthatallt matter contained in the above description, or' shown in theaccompanyingLdrawingsvshall be interpreted asy illustrative-v and not ina'` limiting sensei I cla-im:

" esami member in its retracted ar'ic'iarching', position, alink-tensioning member pivoted on the lower coni tact member and' havinga' fuseiengaging end, said double'ipivot member having a catch and saidlink-'tensioningl member having holding means engagea'bl'e with the.Acatch ina retracted position of the lower contact member and' adapted tobeheld inl engagement by an unbroken fuse link, and' spring meansbiasing' said link-tensioning member to move in a direction to tensionthe fuse link and to release s'aid holding means from Said catch whenthe link issevered. Y

2'. Apparatus made'according'to'claim 1,-wherein the' lower line'terminal includes' a" nonresilient conductive portion and `wherein saidlower contact` member includes" anarcuate spring which is engageablewith said nonresilientpor'ltion'.

3". A fuse' cutout comprising a support having upper andr lower lineterminals, a double-'pivot memberV piv'oted to the support atA one ofits pivots, a fuse holder pivoted to said double-pivot member at itsother pivot,v an' upper Contact member on the inse, holder, aA lowercontact member slidably mounted upon the fuse holder for longitudinalmovement thereof from a retracted position toy an extended positon, saidlower" contact member being conductively engage'able with the lower lineterminal, means latchi'ng' the double-pi'votmember by the lower contactmember whenthe latter is in its retracted position, means' for holdinga' fuse' link between" the upper and lower Contact members to retain thelower Contact member in it'swre'- tracte'd" and latching position, aspring reacting between said lower contact member and said fuse holderandbiasing the lower contact member downward, a rotary link-tensioningmember pivoted on the lower Contact member and having a link-engagingsaddle, said double-pivot member having atcatch'and saidlinkt-tensioning member having ahooli engageable'owivth the catch inaretracted position of the lower contact member' and adapted to'be heldin Aengagement by an unbroken fuse link, and spring means` biasing saidlink-tensioning member tovrotate in a direction to tension the fusevlink4 and to release said hook from said catch' when the linkr issevered. y o o u o o Il. Apparatus made according to` 4claim 3, whereinthe lower `line terminal includes a nonresilient' arcuate conductiveportion. and'wherein said lower Contact member includes an arcuatespring engageable" with said nonresilie'nt portion.

5. The improvement ina fuse cutout of the class"- described having afuse holder for a fuse link including a slidable member thereon movablebetween extended and retracted positions andhaving a pivoted memberthereon swingable c'rosswiseV of the slidable member with cooperating-Ineans on the slidable and pivoted members locking the pivote'd memberonly' when 'the slidable'm'emberisin retracted position; comprisinga'pivoted link-extractingdevice on the slidable member which'includes ahook ehgageable with a catch on the pivotedl member when 'the slidablemember isv in retracted' position, and a spring biasing saidlink-extracting device toward release of the hook fromA the catch,l saidlink-extracting device being adaptedagainst spring'bias tobe held inposition wherein said hook engages saidicatch when the cutout carries anunsevered connected fuse link.

No references cited;v

